June’
2002,
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, Travis
County, Texas.
“So… we are finally here for a bidding adieu”, Jenny Said as they all came to a halt at the entrance of the departures.
“Don’t remind me of it Jenny,” Pooja said “I already started to miss you guys”
The airport looked busy on a week day, few of them strolled and a few others gone hell-for-leather. It appeared there were more number of people inside the premises than the airport could have accommodated. Saryu kept herself engaged in running after a toddler wandering in the area not so far away from the earshot of the conversations of her friends.
“upsy-daisy,” Saryu exclaimed as the toddler fell on to his knees and kept attempting to rise up.
“Cutie pie,” Mruna said as the toddler tickled her fancy with his little footsteps, “So what are you guys planning after this”, she asked casting her eyes back on Aryan and Jenny.
“I am going back home,” Aryan answered her, “Nemo isn’t well. I would be taking the training at JAPMI R&D.”
“Well that sounds really good, working for your own firm” Mruna said.
“Not really. Seem like I am utilizing them and the resources,” Aryan uttered.
“When are you leaving?” Saryu joined the conversation after the little toddler went away with his mommy, “and Jenny, you?” She asked.
“I am leaving tomorrow morning,” Aryan said and Jenny followed, “Haven’t planned anything yet but It occurs to me that I might have to go with Aryan to his hometown ” Jenny said, “What say?” he enquired with Aryan.
Aryan spanked him, “will go by the evening flight,” he said, “Pooja seems to brood over something she may not want to share it. Are you here with us?” he asked and strode a step forward towards to her.
“Hush,” she puffed out, “I am just being attentive at your talking” she said coyly.
“Just kidding, take good care of yourself, okay?” he said. “Keep in touch Poo,” Jenny added. “I am really wanting to see you next time, hope it will not be too late”, said Mruna and brushed her lips on her cheeks, “Good luck with everything,” Saryu stirred within earshot and whispered, “thank you for all that you had done. You know what I mean. Love you dear”
Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 737 to Frankfurt. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately in a minute time. Thank you.
All of them hugged her at once as the lady announcer voiced her words out, “All the very best dear,” was the last word they exchanged before they all bid the first bye in the home country.
Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. I welcome everyone on board. We are currently cruising at an altitude of twenty-three-thousand feet at an airspeed of four-hundred miles per hour. The local time is 15:25 hrs. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on…
Hearing to the captain, Pooja slipped her hand inside the knapsack on the cabin cabbage and drew out the daily record book. She placed the bag back in where it belonged and uncapped the fountain pen.
I felt sorry for Mruna. My guess was correct though, Aryan wouldn’t have accepted her. Now I understand the whys and that clears my mind. I would have stopped her but I shackled up on my instincts because she was and is more than a friend. When she withheld the conviction and lay her trust in me to help her, there were no grounds on asking her to step back. Why should I ask her to refrain when she wants to give it a try? I wouldn’t want to stop her freedom of joy, after all we have just one life. I had made up my mind to help her through the journey maybe a sojourn, as I conceived, and I will be forever on my mark to save if anything absurd abutted on her, during or after the course of the action.
Now the question comes, how are they going to see and talk to each other hereafter? How would they be going at carrying forward their amity? Will there be any disparity be seen in the deportments towards each other? Well, I could write them as many as I can. Be that as it may, I would be never worried for an answer to all those questions not because I am not the one who was in the tracks of Mruna but because of my acquaintance with her and the comradeship we maintained thus far.
Aryan, Jenny, Mruna, Saryu. The four personalities were to the hilt disparate from every other that I met in my life up and till this point in time. Fortunately, we shared the stereotype like two peas in a pod. Each of them understands each other perceptions and respect them as well. Leaving me behind, when I talk of those four dazzling stars, each of them has the vivid vision of the things they take charge over. They tend to be intelligent and practical rather than being intense in emotions and feelings, well they have the threshold. They knew how much to carry and there’s nothing negative remark in here.
Mruna didn’t feel bad for what had happened to her with Aryan. She was sad for losing at something that she believed she could get but not all your tries are wins. She knew this tactically and thus she recovered herself in a matter of time. In fact, we all of them had drowned swigging seven different kinds of spirits. Mruna started her first drink the same night. Not because she had left with the clinker after she fired the first love in her blossoms but she did it for the word I gave to others that day afternoon. She cheered Aryan, well, crazy woman! They both tripped the light fantastic and at times the others bopped as well. We squeezed the late dusk of the day, one darn hell of a night. They gifted me with the most memorable day of my life.
I feel so strange right now as I remember on one incident about that night. It explicitly proved that the same path is not always a success route to everybody. While it depends on several other factors, one factor from the night could be is it depends on how one would plan their journey. The best lesson I learned, don’t chase the same path for success looking at the succeeded. Sometimes it might just not suit you and you may end up heavy-hearted. It is much better to follow your heart than to chase people; you are the king/queen for your kingdom of life; don’t settle in the kingdom, go on to build an empire.”
Mruna capped on her pen and breathed out. She then lay her back in the seat with her eyes closed, “Good God,” she said to herself.
Power and Pelf 